Vegan Butternut Squash Mac n’ Cheeze

A spin on a classic! Use up leftover butternut squash in this super easy and really tasty, vegan macaroni ‘cheese’ recipe. 

A healthier version of the classic mac n’ cheese, this comforting dish gets its cheesy flavour from nutritional yeast and its creaminess from the pureed butternut squash. 

This butternut macaroni cheese recipe is:

• a healthier alternative to the classic mac and cheese
• made with lots of good-for-you butternut squash
• comforting, creamy and delicious
• suitable for vegans

Experiment!

This vegan squash mac and cheese is delicious served plain with a side salad BUT you are more than welcome to add any other extra veggies (try broccoli or sliced mushrooms) or, for extra crunch, sprinkle the top with some chopped nuts (such as walnuts and pine nuts). 

So if you have any leftover butternut squash (boiled or roasted will work), you need to make this! You will not regret it!

Vegan Butternut Squash Mac n’ Cheeze

Print Recipe

Servings 2

Author Let’s Eat Smart

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• handful basil leaves
• 150 g macaroni pasta
• 25 g breadcrumbs (I used panko but any will work)
• 6 sundried tomatoes
• 1 vegetable stock cube
• 175 g butternut squash (or 1 cup if already cooked)
• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tsp paprika
• 50 g vegan cheese alternative, grated
• 240 ml single soya cream

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 200°C | Gas 6

  Heat a large pan with a drizzle of olive oil over a medium heat and add the diced onion. Cook for around 5 mins or until softened, then add the chopped garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes. Take off the heat and set aside.
• Boil a full kettle. Dice the butternut squash into small 2cm cubes. Add them to a pot of boiled water, and bring to the boil over a high heat. Cook until for 15 minutes or until soft. If using leftover butternut squash (already cooked), you can skip this step.
• Meanwhile, cook the macaroni according to instructions until the pasta is cooked with a slight bite. Drain.
• Once the butternut squash is tender, drain in a colander then transfer into a food processor. Add the onion and garlic, single soya cream, paprika, turmeric and nutritional yeast. Blitz until smooth.
• Return the drained pasta to the pot and add the butternut squash sauce. Crumble the stock cube into the pot and stir in the grated vegan cheese. Cook for around 4 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
• Transfer into an oven-proof dish. Top with the basil leaves and sprinkle over the panko breadcrumbs and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Place in the oven and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the breadcrumbs turn golden and crispy.